The high investments are reflected in both Switzerland as a research centre and in the industry’s employees, according to Interpharma. The association explained that in 2014, 41,900 people were employed by pharmaceutical companies. With a proportion of 1 per cent of the Swiss workforce, the importance of Switzerland as a pharmaceutical centre is evident.
Since 1995, the number of direct employees has increased, and has since then almost doubled. Also benefiting from the sector are indirect employees at suppliers, who amounted to 130,000 in 2014.
In terms of exports, the pharmaceutical industry reached more than CHF 70 billion for the first time last year, thanks to a growth of 6.4 per cent. Exports have increased nearly eightfold since 1990, and in 2014, they accounted for more than a third of Swiss overall exports, according to Interpharma, the business association headquartered in Basel.
